ty of police to protect the house,"
observed Mr. Temple.

"I know they ought, sir," replied the pedlar, "but the truth is, they're
so proud and foolhardy, that the very mention of such a thing throws
them into a fury."

"That is unfortunate," said the other. "At all events, I shall leave
nothing undone within my power to prevail on them to take steps for
their security. You may rely on it," he added, "that whatever I can do
for that purpose, I shall do."

"Well, now," said the Cannie, "my mind, thank God's, aisier. I'll lose
no time myself in seein' what I can do to prevent this business; that
is, I mane, their stayin' in the house," he added, as if checking or
correcting himself.

He then bade Mr. Temple good morning, and hurried away, without waiting
to see his fair friend, Lilly, as was his custom to do.

CHAPTER XVII.--Midnight Court of Justice

--Sentence of the Proctor and His Sons.

Breakfast in the proctor's, on the morning of Christmas Eve, was eaten
as if it had been a funeral meal. The proctor himself could not raise
his spirits, which were generally high and cheerful. John and Alick
were much more serious than usual; and were it not for the presence of
M'Carthy, the meal in question would have been a very gloomy one indeed.
Even M'Carthy himself felt the influence of the spirit that prevailed,
and found that all his attempts to produce cheerfulness or mirth among
them were by no means successful. The two sons, as if acting under the
influence of some unaccountable presentiment, engaged themselves in
casting bullets for the fire-arms with which the house was furnished,
whilst M'Carthy spent his time with the ladies, and endeavored to amuse
them as well as ha could. About twelve o'clock John rode into the town
of Lisnagola to bring home a blunderbuss which he had sent the day
before, by Mogue Moylan, for the purpose of having it furnished with a
new ramrod. Mogue being engaged in some matters of a pressing nature,
John determined to go for it himself, especially as he wanted to lay in
a better supply of powder. Of this Mogue knew nothing.

Mr. Temple soon made his appearance, but, as the pedlar feared, the
object of his visit was not attended with success. He urged all the
arguments in his power upon the proctor and his son Alick, to remove
instantly, and at once, to Lisnagola, or some other neighboring town,
where, for the present, they might be safe. Instead of listening to the
argument of in